Philippines: 10 killed in communist rebel attacks in Mindanao

Six soldiers and two NPA rebels were killed Monday after a foiled attack by 50 communist guerrillas on a town police station of Matanao in Davao del Sur claimed the lives of two policemen at dawn this morning, bringing the total number of casualties to 10.

Army Brigade spokesman Capt. William Rodriguez confirmed six government soldiers were killed while eight others were wounded when the military truck they were traveling in hit a landmine.

The soldiers were dispatched to reinforce the besieged police headquarters and pursue the fleeing rebels, but ran into an NPA blocking force who detonated the landmine in Barangay Asbang at around 9am Monday.

Members of the Philippine Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion manning a checkpoint in Barangay Savoy, also in Matanog, Davao del Sur, earlier apprehended nine alleged NPA guerrillas who fled after failing to overrun the Matanog police station.

Capt. Rodriguez said despite being outnumbered, the town’s police force was able to repel the rebel attackers.

Pursuing government soldiers recovered the bodies of two of NPA rebels in Barangay Talaytay, according to Capt. Rodriguez.

This brought the total casualties in Monday’s series of bloody incidents to 10: six soldiers, two policemen and two NPA rebels.

The NPA rebels who raided the town police headquarters and engaged pursuing government soldiers are believed to be headed by Felix Armodia, alias Ka Jing, who in December vowed to launch more rebel offensives.